When Christopher Keelan graduated college, he ran into an old high school friend who told him how much she loved working at T. Rowe Price and that they were hiring. Fast forward ten years, he's a Digital Project Manager at the firm. “I feel fortunate to work for a company where all levels of the organization place such an emphasis on associate development and career progression," he says. “I would genuinely love to retire from T. Rowe Price after more than 35 years of service."

Keelan, who pursued a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) license, initially thought he'd follow in his father's footsteps, career-wise. “My dad worked in sales in the foodservice industry and took every opportunity to teach me what he knew about the sales profession," he explains.

Soon after Keelan earned his FINRA Series 6 license, however, he experienced a change of heart. “My supervisor asked me to coach one of my peers through the licensing process. I remember thinking, 'Me? Why would she listen to me? I'm just her peer,'" he says. But Keelan regularly met with his colleague to help guide her study and share his strategies. When she ultimately passed, he felt a mixture of excitement for her but also some satisfaction that he had contributed to her success. “Because of that peer coaching assignment, I chose to pursue leadership so I could lead and develop future associates, and I've been in leadership roles ever since," he explains. “I owe it to my first supervisor for giving me an assignment that helped to shape my career."

Today, Keelan has modeled his own style of leadership after another former supervisor. As a new addition to their team and department, he often looked to Keelan to help make decisions on matters such as client issue resolution. “He would provide the supervisor- level sign-off that was required, that I didn't yet have," Keelan recalls. “By trusting my expertise and supporting the decisions I made, he showed me that a good leader is someone who not only sets the vision for their team but also helps them attain those goals by coaching or removing obstacles along the way."

Since starting with T. Rowe Price ten years ago, Keelan learned the most daunting opportunities helped him grow and develop the most. They've also been the most enjoyable. With that in mind, he now makes a point to check in with himself on a regular basis. “On my ride home each day, I do a personal retrospective by taking stock of what I did well and what I wish I'd done differently," he says. “Based on that inner monologue, I plan how I'm going to implement changes in the future," he explains. For Keelan, taking the time to assess his strengths and opportunities has been immensely transformative in his professional life.